The Steel Remains

The Steel Remains is a dark fantasy novel set in a world recovering from a devastating war between humans and lizard-like beings. The story centers on Ringil Eskiath, a war hero living in exile due to his society's rejection of his sexuality. The narrative follows three main characters: Ringil, who investigates a slavery operation in his home city; Archeth, a half-human advisor to an emperor; and Egar, a nomadic clan chieftain. Their separate paths begin to converge as they encounter supernatural forces and face threats from both human and otherworldly sources. The book combines elements of traditional fantasy with Morgan's trademark gritty realism and graphic content. Combat scenes reflect the author's background in science fiction, bringing a visceral quality to the medieval fantasy setting. Morgan uses the fantasy genre to explore themes of sexuality, prejudice, and the lasting impact of war on both individuals and societies. The novel challenges conventional fantasy tropes while examining how heroes adapt to life after their legendary deeds are done.

Readers note the book's dark, gritty take on fantasy and its LGBTQ+ representation through the main character Ringil. Many appreciate Morgan's unflinching approach to violence, sexuality, and power dynamics. Readers liked: - Raw, realistic combat scenes - Complex character relationships - Subversion of traditional fantasy tropes - Direct handling of LGBTQ+ themes Readers disliked: - Slow pacing in the first third - Graphic violence and sexual content - Difficulty following multiple plotlines - Abrupt ending Review Scores: Goodreads: 3.7/5 (15,000+ ratings) Amazon: 4/5 (300+ reviews) Common reader comments: "Pulls no punches with its brutality" - Goodreads review "Takes fantasy in a bold new direction" - Amazon review "Too much focus on shock value" - LibraryThing review "Challenging but rewarding read" - Fantasy Faction forum

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🗡️ The book was Morgan's first venture into fantasy after establishing himself as a renowned science fiction author with works like "Altered Carbon" 🏳️‍🌈 It features one of fantasy literature's first openly gay protagonists in a main role, challenging genre conventions of its time 🐉 The "lizard-folk" antagonists were inspired by Mesoamerican mythology and represent a departure from traditional European-based fantasy creatures 🎭 Morgan drew on his experience teaching English in Istanbul and traveling through Turkey to create the book's diverse cultural landscape ⚔️ The combat scenes were influenced by Morgan's research into historical Viking warfare techniques and medieval military tactics